Okla. Educational Institutions To Receive Nearly $200 Million In Relief

Oklahoma colleges and K-12 schools will be getting part of nearly $200 million dollars from the federal government. 

Senator Jim Inhofe said this funding will help make sure all students in Oklahoma continue to get the education they deserve. 

The senator says $79 million dollars will be given to students through direct cash grants to cover any financial problems that might have impacted their education during this pandemic. 

$159 million dollars will go to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund for college students.

$39 million will go to the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund. That will give Governor Stitt the flexibility to help students from kindergarten through high school across the state. 

All of this money is coming from the Education Stabilization Fund — which is part of the federal CARES Act. The act also extends student loan relief, which pushes payments back for six months without interest. 

“These institutions have had to completely shut down and work to provide continuity of education remotely,” said the senator in a statement. He also said this funding will give schools the flexibility to continue providing the best education possible. 

Inhofe said he expects the department to announce the next round of funding in the next few weeks, which will help out K-12 schools.